Publicly distributed apps

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Publicly Distributed Apps

    ServiceNow's Publicly Distributed Apps feature enables customers to distribute branded iOS and Android mobile applications through public app stores such as Apple's App Store and Google Play Store. This capability supports delivering fully branded mobile experiences aligned with ServiceNow workflows, ensuring compliance with Apple and Google's publishing guidelines.

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    When requesting both iOS and Android versions simultaneously, both apps are delivered according to the iOS timeline, typically about one week. Customers with urgent deadlines are advised to request and approve the Android app first to expedite availability, then submit the iOS request. Alternatively, customers can test workflows using the existing ServiceNow Store apps during the branding build process, reducing overall testing time when the branded app becomes available.

    iOS Branded Apps for Public Distribution

    • Built through ServiceNow Mobile Publishing by submitting a branded app request.
    • After build completion (about one week), an XCode archive (.xcarchive) is provided for download.
    • Customers update and re-sign the archive to create an iOS application archive (.ipa) file.
    • The .ipa file is uploaded to Apple Connect for testing and approval.
    • Once approved, the app can be deployed publicly on the Apple Store.

    Android Branded Apps for Public Distribution

    • Built via Mobile Publishing by submitting a branded app request.
    • Upon completion (usually within a week or less), an Android App Bundle (.aab) file is made available for download.
    • Customers test the AAB file and approve the build if tests pass.
    • The app is then deployed on the Google Play Store for public distribution.

    Practical Considerations

    • Testing existing ServiceNow Store mobile apps during the brand build process allows focus on branding, login flow, push notifications, and app store listing validation once the branded app is ready.
    • The workflow for both platforms is designed to align with platform-specific publishing best practices, ensuring smooth submission and approval processes.

    Public distribution can be used to distribute iOS or Android branded applications on public app stores.

    Important:
    • If you select iOS & Android as your Operating System (OS) when you request your branded mobile app, all builds are delivered to you at the same time. This means that both your Android and iOS apps are delivered to you within the publicly distributed iOS delivery timeline of 1 week.
    • If you have an implementation date deadline within days, it's suggested that you request the Android app first, test it, and approve its branding. Then submit your iOS app request.
    • Another way to expedite delivery of your branded app is to test the mobile workflows and functions using the mobile apps that are available on the ServiceNow® Store while your branded app is being built. Your branded app uses all the same workflows and mobile app functions as the apps that are available on the ServiceNow Store. Then when your branded app is available, you only need to test the branding, the login flow for pre-filled instance URLs, push notifications, and the app store listings.

    iOS branded apps for public distribution

    The ServiceNow® branding program complies with the suggested practices from Apple for branded app releases. Mobile Publishing enables you to request a branded iOS app that can be distributed on the public Apple Store. After you complete the request form, your ServiceNow instance builds the app and provides a link from where you can download an XCode archive file (.xcarchive). Then you download the XCode archive file, update it, and re-sign it to generate an iOS application archive file (.ipa). After the .ipa file is generated, you upload it to Apple Connect for testing. When testing is completed, you approve the build and can deploy your branded app with the public Apple Store.

    The following image summarizes the workflow. It usually takes about 1 week to build the iOS app for public distribution.
    Figure 1. iOS branded app publishing process for public distribution
    Public publishing process for iOS branded apps.

    Android branded apps for public distribution

    The ServiceNow branding program also complies with the suggested practices from Google for branded app releases. Use Mobile Publishing to request a branded Android app that you can upload and distribute with the Google Play Store. After you complete the branded app request form in Mobile Publishing, your ServiceNow instance builds the app. Then it provides a link from where you can download an Android App Bundle file (.aab). Download the AAB file and test it. If the tests are successful, you approve the build and can deploy your app with the Google Play Store.

    The following image summarizes the workflow. It usually takes about a week or less to build the Android branded application. Sometimes it might take only a few hours.
    Figure 2. Android branded app publishing process for public distribution
    Public publishing process for Android branded apps.